Love is...

My in-laws recently purchased a new home, a smaller, cozier, retirement haven that they've been planning for for ages. I wracked my brain for something to give to them as a housewarming gift and I finally settled on a layout that I could have framed for them to hang in their new abode.

I started with this fabulous sketch from the My Mind's Eye Layout Challenge. I wanted to make a 10 x 10 layout as this would be framed and I didn't want it to be too large. I also wanted it to be simple and elegant, and the colors in the Blink of an Eye collection of patterned paper was just what I needed. For the focal image, I chose a picture of my in-laws with our son, who is their only grandchild.

I love the stars on the patterned paper and used a star border punch, filling in alternating negative spaces with the same patterned paper. I also die-cut some stars and stitched along a seam with linen thread. I wanted to leave a lot of white space so that the center element could be popped up for dimension. I was so pleased with the results and I hope my son's Nana and Papa enjoy their new digs.

BEAN NOTES

Patterned Paper: Blink of an Eye (My Mind's Eye)

Cardstock: Vanilla (American Crafts); Dusty Durango, Chocolate Chip (Stampin' Up!)

Fibers: Linen Thread (SU!)

Dies: Nested Stars (Spellbinders)

Punches: Star Border Punch (Martha Stewart Crafts); Embossed Scallop (EK Success); Large Star (SU!)

Stickers: Alphabet Chipboard (Cosmo Cricket) Rub-On: Daily Press (October Afternoon) Tools: Royal Typewriter Other: Photograph